All posts tagged ‘geeky vacations’

Over the next three weeks we will look at the top ten geeky things to do in each of the major theme parks in Orlando and then ask for you to vote on which has the best geeky attractions. Earlier this week we looked at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and today we move on over to EPCOT. EPCOT (previous known as EPCOT Center) is, in my opinion, not only one of the geekiest theme parks in the world, but simply one of the geekiest places in the world.

EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow and was originally planned as a working city for 20,000 people to showcase American industry and serve as a blueprint for all future cities. Sadly, those plans fell through after Walt Disney’s death, due to the loss of such an influential leader. EPCOT Center was built instead as a theme park that would showcase those same ideas and concepts, always changing to demonstrate future technologies and inspire innovation and imagination.

First on my list is Soarin’, a ride that take you on a hangglider ride across stunning California scenery; everything from rolling surf to Napa Valley and Los Angeles at night. The ride’s content isn’t all that geeky, but its inception and construction really is. The ride mechanism was initially designed using an erector set belonging to head Imagineer Mark Sumner, Mark created the basic concept at home and used his model to show his team how the ride could be built.

7. Captain E.O.

Try to imagine if Star Wars had ended with an overly camp Luke Skywalker flying into the Death Star, being taken captive by the Emperor along with a group of puppet and robot friends and then saving everyone by launching into a huge song and dance number.

You’re now some way to understanding the insanity of Captain E.O. – a fifteen minute 3D movie starring Michael Jackson as the captain of a ship of misfits. The show was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas and also stars Anjelica Huston as the Supreme Leader, at the time of it’s creation in 1986 it was the most expensive film ever produced on a per-minute basis; it was closed seemingly forever in 1994 but reopened in 2010 as a tribute after Jackson’s death.

Much of the initial battle sequence looks like Star Wars as the ships fly down a trench over a space station type terrain, after the crew are captured and brought before the Supreme Leader, Jackson explains that he is there to present a gift which turn out to be his big song and dance number We Are Here to Change the World. Also, he can shoot light beams from his hands that turn enemy soldiers into backing dancers. Yeah, take that Skywalker.

Over the next three weeks we will look at the top ten geeky things to do in each of the major theme parks in Orlando and then ask for you to vote on which has the best geeky attractions. To kick start the series we’re heading to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, possibly the least popular of the resort’s four parks but still with plenty to see and do. Animal Kingdom may seem the least geeky of the Orlando theme park, but as much of this list is taken up with animal experiences it’s definitely great for biology nerds. The park will soon be home to a new geeky experience as construction for the Avatar area based on James Cameron’s hit movie is due to begin in 2013.

A twenty minute live show featuring dozens of bird species including the American Bald Eagle. Mixed in with the stunts and “singing” are important messages about conserving these birds and their friends. After most shows the handlers will bring some of the birds to the edge of the stage so you can get an up-close look, ask questions about them and get good photographs.

9. It’s Tough to Be a Bug

This 4D movie/show teaches us about the world beneath our feet, full of creepy crawlies, bugs and spiders. It’s not a good idea for those who don’t like our six and eight-legged friends or those afraid of loud noises as it’s a very immersive experience, but kids often love seeing the CG bug characters appearing huge on screen before them and the in-room technology is brilliant at bringing the show to life. Make sure to take a look at the posters in the waiting area.

8. Finding Nemo: The Musical

It shouldn’t work, but it my opinion it does. Finding Nemo is one of my favourite Pixar movies and it’s story of letting go of our little ones really speaks to us as parents. Musicals aren’t to everyone’s taste but the puppets are spectacular and the sets are worth the thirty minute show.

7. Animal Trails

Live animal experiences are what this park is founded on, and there are several walking trails scattered throughout. The Discovery Island trails wind around the base of the Tree of Life and feature mostly birds alongside kangaroos, otters, deer and more. The Pangani Forest Exploration Trail is located in Africa and features African animals including hippos, meerkats and gorillas. Finally the Maharajah Jungle Trek is found in Asia and includes gibbons, fruit bats, Komodo Dragons and tigers. All the trails feature boards where you can learn about the animals you are seeing and often staff are on hand talking about them and answering questions.

The first actual ride on the list, Primeval Whirl is a rollercoaster that begins with you travelling back in time to the time an asteroid hit and wiped out the dinosaurs. It’s a wild mouse type coaster that spins the ride vehicles around randomly on the track meaning you can end up going down drops facing backwards, sideways or any way. The whole thing is brightly coloured with cartoonish cardboard dinosaurs running away from smoking meteors; just leave the hard science at home.

5. Kilimanjaro Safaris

One of the park’s signature attractions, this ride takes you on a safari through the 100 acres of African savannah recreated in Orlando. On your journey you might see lions, hippos, giraffes and much more but although the jeeps are driven freely (they don’t follow a track) your driver will not stop for photo opportunities, but on one trip we got lucky as a giraffe walked in front of us, forcing us to stop for a few minutes until the road was clear. There is a poaching plot to the ride but most people tune it out after their first ride and focus on animal spotting instead. Continue Reading “Geeking Out in Orlando: Animal Kingdom” »